I miss you mommy...

Today is the first day that I cried since I have arrived in Sydney. It wasn't that I was sad and stuff. I was just downloading some music and stuff and ended up listening to a song from an Indian movie called 'Taare Zameen Par'. The movie is about a child and how because he is 'different' from the other children he is put in a boarding by his parents. I had heard great reviews about the movie but didn't see it before leaving India because I knew I'd cry bucket loads of tears if I went to the theater to watch it as I'd be able to relate to it at so many levels.
I was put in a boarding school when I was 5 and stayed there for about the next 11 years. It was an experience that I rather not remember because it brings back some really dark memories. I was listening to the song and it gave me goosebumps and tears started to roll down my eyes. I started to feel choked but I didn't turn it off because I wanted to feel the emotion. I feel I am emotionally very sterile so at moments like these I want to live the experience. It makes me feel alive. I would want to translate the lyrics of the song for the non-hindi speaking readers but it would be a bit traumatic for me listening to it again. So I am just going to post the video and maybe translate it sometime later.
P.S. It's strange how a mother's heart knows even when she is far far away. Within five minutes of my so called 'breakdown' Mum called!!! I feel better now!!

Maa from the movie Taare Zameen Par
Video Uploaded by naveenmacs

9 Crimes

Video Uploaded by Freeketamine

This is the song and the couple that I referred to in the last post. I just love their dance and the song that they are dancing to i.e. 9 crimes by Damien Rice is my current favorite. I remember listening to The Blowers daughters by Damien from the soundtrack of the movie Closer and falling in love with his voice. He surely does have a very interesting and soulful voice.

Please don't stop the music

I started watching my first "Australian" TV show today. My housemate doesn't have cable so all we get on TV are a few channels. Today I saw the first episode of "So you think you can dance?" Though I have a mortal fear of dancing I enjoy listening to music and watching dance. I was really impressed with the first couple that was selected (with the 16 years age difference) . They were dancing to an amazing duet!! Does anyone know the song. I love love love the song!!!
And then there was the young teenager (15 years old) who wasn't allowed to compete beacuse you need to be 18 and over. He was so very great and the music to which he danced was very soulful. Once again does anyone know the song??!!

I love the dance at the start of this song from Madonna's The Confessions Tour DVD.

Video Uploaded by Skin1975

Heartache

Picture Credit : Rosarot

Today was a rather interesting day. I started with getting a temporary mobile number for Sydney also getting some Indian currency exchanged into Australian dollars. During the day I spoke to a few friends and it seemed like I was playing agony aunt today counseling everyone. It was ironic because my life is in such a lot of mess and here I was counseling other people. I guess looking at things from a third person's perspective is always easy. It seems like all my friends are going through a tough time in life. One wants to move on with her life but feels that she may end up hurting her boyfriend with whom she is a long distance relationship. I suggested that either she gets some sot of commitment from her boyfriend or there is no point trying to hold on to a relationship that already seems doomed.
Another friend is contemplating divorce from her gay husband but is worried about the future of her children. There too I suggested that if she is independent and out of a toxic relationship she would be in a much better position to look after the welfare of her children. Then there was another friend who has got out of a long relationship due to his parents not approving of his girlfriend and has been engaged to a girl chosen by his family. Today after a long time his ex called and that kinda upset his balance. I was trying to just cheer him up because in this situation I had nothing to say. I hope my cynicism and recent unfortunate brush with relationships hasn't influenced my suggestions and hope it works out for the best for all or them. I believe that love mostly leads to lots of pains and tears but it takes a rather brave person to open his heart after he has been hurt once. I am a coward in that respect but hope to change that this year. Enough of playing it safe I guess I have to let go of my guard and give 'love' another shot!!

On a completely separate note I went to the movies today. A friend and I went to see National Treasure - Book of Secrets. Nothing great but nevertheless kept me interested. But the high point of the day was listening to Charkha the new music album by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan the nephew of legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. His music would surely make his uncle proud. Beautiful songs about love, separation, heartache and unconditional love done justice by Rahat's soulful and poignant rendition.

Tere Bina - Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Song Uploaded by Terameradil

Gotan Project

The first time I ever heard Gotan Project was the tango song in the movie Shall We Dance. Ever since I have heard some of their music and have never been disappointed. While looking for a video to post on the blog I came across this amazing video featured an equally great song.

Gotan Project : Diferente
Video Uploaded by Chokedamp

Someone great is gone

I just love this video and the song!!! Hope you guys like it too...

Someone great - LCD Soundsystem
Video Uploaded by 0ndal

Sain Zahoor

Picture Credit www.julioetchart.com

Well you would read more abut how I stumbled upon this awesome Sufi singer Sain Zahoor (Winner of Best voice of the year 2006 in the BBC world Music Awards) in the next post. But I heard his music on youtube and was pleasantly surprised. I guess to appreciate it more I would want to hear his CD and wait to immerse myself in the experience. Though he lives just across the border and sings in the language I speak at home yet his music is inaccessible to me. It's strange how there are borders not just across land but also borders that selfishly divide our culture and people with imaginary lines or barbed fences...

Sain Zahoor - Allah Hu
Video uploaded by Sarsh4h

Sigur Ros

While browsing through channels on the telly today I stumbled on this song by an Icelandic band called Sigur Ros. The only other singer from Iceland that I have ever heard is Bjork. There is something very intriguing and meditative about this particular song. Hope to hear your reactions about the same.

Sigur Ros - Von
Video Uploaded by Mmilne82

I wanna touch you.... feel you .. slide all over you

This is the new commercial by Lee jeans on the telly here. I love the concept and the song is just amazing. Does anyone know the song??!! I am loving it!!! I wanna touch you, feel you .. slide all over you ;-)

Lee Jeans Commercial

Video Credit : Happyfilmography

Gaudi and Nusrat

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan needs no introduction. He was one of the greatest exponent on Sufiyana Kalam but his untimely death left a great void in the genre. Now we have many producers who are using his vocals and coming out with mixed versions of the same and at times they destroy the beauty of the original composition in the process. I stumbled on a new song by Nusrat from Gaudi's album Dub Qawwali and I though it was really experimental and nice and hence I am posting the same for you to enjoy.

Bethe Bethe Kese Kese - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Gaudi

Video Credit : Sixdegreesrecords

Status quo

The last few days have been rather nice. I have been hanging around a lot with Hobbes and for the last two days Calvin, Hobbes and me have been catching up over dinner. Calvin leaves for Oslo on the 24th so the last dinner was about plans to pimp him up for the Scandinavians so that Calvin may get lucky on a cruise he plans to take to Denmark. I enjoy Hobbes company but for some strange reason we love to disagree and there is lot of arguing- all harmless though!
It's refreshing to catch up with people with whom you don't need to pretend with. Both Calvin and Hobbes are gay and so there is lots of bitching and giggling like teenage girls each time the gang gets together. I guess we are the stereotype kinds.
A few days after I met Hobbes he asked me if we were just friends or friends with benefits! I have never been with someone younger than me so I just gave this rather twisted philosophical answer but ever since I have been kinda conscious in his company. The whole dating game comes with all these apprehensions and questions like does he like them smooth, does he like to kiss, should I be honest or should I be mysterious blah blah blah and that is daunting to me so I like the present status quo. But I am happy in the place I am in and things are looking up for me in regards to personal matters but with regards to career and stuff everything seems to be stuck!! I feel like shouting and screaming on someone but I think I am too passive to do that so all I am doing is listening to some music to keep me relaxed.
I heard this song by Israeli-Palestinian singer Amal Murkus the other day called Tamahali and tried to find it on youtube but couldn't instead I found another beautiful number by her which I am posting. Her voice is just divine and transports you another place...!!!!!

Amal Murkus - Ya Oud

Video Credit : Muxizian
Photo Credit : Ayerlind

Karunesh

Karunesh, Real Name : Bruno Reuter - is a musician born in Cologne, Germany in 1956. His music has strong Asian and Indian influences prevalent throughout, with liberal use of Indian instruments (like the sitar for example). After attaining his degree, Karunesh was involved in a serious motorcycle accident. His brush with death prompted him to rethink his life and embark on a spiritual journey of sorts, and in 1979 he travelled to India. His accident prompted him to choose music as a career.

Punjab - Karunesh

The song is a traditional Punjabi Folk song which talks about the sadness a daughter feels on leaving her Dad's home to live in the house of her husband. So it's like a wedding song!! There is a beautiful version of the song by Surinder Kaur but I haven't been able to find it online. You can find a better video of the song here, but I like this version better.

Video Credit : Realpaharan

Edith Piaf

I discovered Edith's music when I accidentally downloaded one of her songs. Ever since I wanted to buy a CD but couldn't get my hands on one. Last year during one of my trips to Delhi I bought one of her CD which also had some notes on her life on the CD jacket cover. She had a very sad and difficult life and through it all sang some really beautiful music. Below is one of her song and the trailer of the movie La Vie En Rose (La Mome in french)based on her life.

Edit Piaf - Mon Manege A Moi

La Vie En Rose Trailer

Video Credits : CafeDaria, PicturehouseDF

Nana Mouskouri

I was introduced to Nana Mouskouri by an acquaintance who was married to a Greek guy. We were driving in my car and she referred to her music and asked me if I had heard any of it. I hadn't at that point of time. Some days later on a trip to the local music store I stumbled on one of her CD's. So while I was blogging today I heard one of her song's Plasir d'Amour and I decided to post the video on the blog. While reading through Wikipedia I found out that she had one vocal chord thicker than the other!!! (whatever that means)

Nana Mouskouri & George Chakiris - Plasir d'Amour

Nana Mouskouri - Historia De Un Amor ft clips from the DVD Head On starring Alex Dimitriades

Video Credit: Deborahmatthews, Jief75

The High Priestess of Soul

One of my all time favourite artist is Nina Simone. Her voice is not conventionally melodic but it is very melancholic and poignant and it moves me every time I hear her music. I remember watching an interview by her a few months ago on BBC and she was all the Diva that I had thought she would be listening to her music. Who would ever shoot their neighbor's son with a pneumatic pistol only because his laughter was disturbing her concentration?!! Another time she ran behind a record company executive in a hotel with a gun after accusing him of stealing money from her in royalties. She was a front runner in the Civil Rights Movement in America and many of her song have a direct or indirect reference to it the most famous being Mississippi Goddamn.
I am listening to her music while writing this post and I am moved beyond words. It was sad that she suffered from psychiatric problems like bipolar at later age. Nevertheless her music is eternal.

Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares for me (Video by Aardman Animations)

Photo Credit : Morething.com
Video Credit : Pluisje666

Punjabi Folk Music

I have always posted music from around the world that I like and I felt guilty that I had never posted anything from my land. Punjab is the land that I call home and Punjabis are know to be people who live life king size. Even the music is usually sung at a higher pitch and music is an integral part of our life from festivities to weddings etc. Punjabi folk music was much appreciated and very popular in the past but with changing times most Punjabi music too have degenerated and now it's all noise. My favourite Punjabi singers from yesteryears are Kuldep Manak, Surinder Kaur and Gurdas Maan. I hope with time Punjabi folk music has a revival or a beautiful musical tradition would be lost forever.

Kuldeep Manak- Poorna

Gurdas Maan - Challa

Video Credits : Chotalambardar, OneLovePunjabi

Preserving dying musical traditions

On my various trips to Dharamshala (the seat of HH Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in Exile) the one thing I hoarded up on was music Cd's and it was here that I discovered two amazing artist trying to preserve dying musical traditions. Nawang Khechog a Grammy nominated artist plays the Tibetan Flute and has has collaborated with artist like Kitaro, Carlos Nakai, Peter Glass amongst others and also acted in the movie "Seven Years in Tibet". The other artist is R. Carlos Nakai a Grammy nominated Native American Flute player. Both the artists have collaborated on a few albums like In a Distant Place and Winds of Devotion. I was listening to their music today so thought I'd introduce the readers to the music too.

Nawang Khechog

R Carlos Nakai

Video Credits: Facusrigel, Warrior Panther

Mekaal Hasan Band

I was browsing through channels on the telly today and I stumbled upon this song. It is sung by a Pakistani band called Mekaal Hasan Band. It is a really nice song with great music and vocals. Sadly the CD is not as yet available in India but good old You Tube came to the rescue. There are some other great bands and singers from Pakistan that I really adore like Fuzon, Call, Jal, Abida Parveen and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

Mekaal Hasan Band - Rabba

Video Credit: One Man Army

Anoushka Shankar - Rise

Anoushka Shankar is the daughter of celebrated Sitar player Ravi Shankar and the half sister of Geethali Norah Jones Shankar i.e. Norah Jones (from her father's side). After having tried her hand at classical Indian music she came out with a few albums on Classical Music playing the Sitar. She was also featured on the song 'Book of Life' by Sting from his album Sacred Love. She has been nominated for two Grammies (Norah has won 8!!)the last being for her album 'Rise' in which she has experimented with many musical styles and instruments. I really like the album and I think it is a very brave effort. Usually most artists tend to mess up music when they are trying their hand at fusion (i.e. of Indian and Western musical traditions) and all they create is 'noise'. Anoushka on the other hand created some really nice and meditative music.

Anoushka Shankar talking about her Grammy album 'Rise'

Joshua Bell and Anoushka Shankar performing at the Verbier Festival 2007

Photo Credit: Rolex
Video Credit: Artmako, Mediciarts

Susana Baca and her 'Cause'

In this day and age when uniformity and homogeneity is becoming a way of life we are loosing on the variation and diversity of cultures and languages. Due to the predominance of certain language many other languages are dying a slow death which is so very unfortunate because with the language dies the culture, music, history and stories of the people. One of the most important measure of the development of a language is it's literature (both oral and written) and it's music.

Susana Baca is one such artist who is trying to preserve a dying legacy. She of of Afro Peruvian descent and through her music is trying to preserve and popularize the music of her land. Africans brought as slaves by the Spanish to Latin America gave birth to a new culture which was a mix of their African roots and their new home in Peru and a new genre of music was thus born. I was introduced to Susana's music through a Putumayo CD that I bought last year and which featured the amazing song titled "Maria Lando". I found the darkness, sadness and "sufferation " (as in terms if reggae music) in her voice and music very intoxicating and that is what made me like her. The video is a short introduction to her music, the 'cause' and is followed by a beautiful recording of "Drumi Mobila" (the magic starts at 2:59). Hope you enjoy the music. I think Putumayo is making a real good effort in introducing the world to some amazing artists that otherwise wouldn't be known outside their country due to the the limitation of language and exposure.

Susana Baca - Drumi Mobila

Video credit: Bonnodato